When most people think of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, they picture the heating and A/C system that cools their home. While residential HVAC systems are part of every home, they're only one part of the HVAC industry — also included within this general class of ventilation systems are large-scale systems for industrial, commercial, and institutional HVAC.
Learn more about where flow monitors are used in commercial and industrial HVAC systems and how ChemTec's adjustable flow monitors can help prevent damage to sensitive, expensive HVAC equipment.
Local and Central HVAC Systems
Residential, commercial, and industrial HVAC systems can be divided into two main categories: local and central.
- Local HVAC systems are those that are inside a defined area, with no ductwork necessary.
- Central HVAC systems tend to be much larger and are located outside of the building, delivering air through a series of ducts.
Central systems utilize heating and cooling panels and water-source heat pumps, and can include all air, air & water, and all water systems. Within these larger central HVAC facilities, you can find flow monitors hard at work.
How Flow Monitors Are Used in HVAC Systems
Flow monitors or flow switches and flow meters can be found in an HVAC system's cooling panels and pumps. A cooling panel uses a heat pipe partially filled with refrigerant to act as a passive cooling device.
When the control panel's heat travels through the wall of the tube, it heats and vaporizes the refrigerant, helping cool the air. Without a flow monitor, it's tough for the HVAC system to detect when it needs to turn on and how much chilled (or heated) air it needs to push through the ducts to get the building to the desired temperature.
- Flow monitors are installed in-line in a cooling tower or chiller to alert to a loss of flow of cooling water. Without a consistent flow of cool water, the components can quickly become overheated and damaged.
- Flow meters are also installed in-line to help accurately indicate flow. When you detect an increase (or decrease) in water or coolant flow through the HVAC system, quickly troubleshooting the problem can help prevent permanent damage to the unit.
Designed to sense both high and low flow conditions, ChemTec's Adjustable Flow Monitors, Sensors & Switches and Non-Adjustable Flow Monitors, Sensors & Switches can be used in both manual and programmable linear controllers. Meanwhile, the LPH Series of non-adjustable liquid and gas flow monitors can carefully monitor the flows of corrosive and non-corrosive liquids and gases.
At ChemTec, our Research and Development team works directly with clients to design and build custom parts that can meet your unique needs. Learn more about the products and services we offer or get in touch with one of our developers today.